Gallica, a filly with a bent leg who was taken to Bairnsdale to break her maiden status less than two months ago, came up trumps when winning the Group One Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.It was an especially satisfying win for Caulfield trainer Mick Price after the disappointment of losing Pompeii Ruler for the rest of the spring through injury after he was runner-up in last Saturday's Yalumba Stakes.And also because Gallica's owners, Robert Harding and his wife June, have had horses with Price s

Gallica, a filly with a bent leg who was taken to Bairnsdale to break her maiden status less than two months ago, came up trumps when winning the Group One Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.

It was an especially satisfying win for Caulfield trainer Mick Price after the disappointment of losing Pompeii Ruler for the rest of the spring through injury after he was runner-up in last Saturday's Yalumba Stakes.

And also because Gallica's owners, Robert Harding and his wife June, have had horses with Price since he began training at Epsom 15 years ago.

Harding, who owns the Harding's Hardware chain, paid $250,000 for the daughter of Redoute's Choice at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale at the Gold Coast last year.

The filly was bred by another of Price's owners Bob Scarborough at his Wood Nook Farm but unfortunately for him he has since sold the dam, Kingmambo filly Swing Queen.

"It's fantastic for the Hardings, they have been my number one supporters since day one, when I had my little stable out the back of Epsom," Price said.

"He's been a great owner. He's bought some fillies that have been a bit slow, but he stuck and winning a Group One is just fantastic for him.

"He can do some breeding with her now."

Gallica was runner-up at her first two starts this campaign, at Geelong as a late two-year-old at the end of July and Sale on August 14, before Price took her to Bairnsdale "to give her a kill" on August 25 - and she hasn't stopped winning since.

"With her bent leg she was never going to be a precocious two-year-old. We didn't ask her to be one," Price said.

After making it two straight wins in a fillies and mares race at Ballarat she progressed straight to the Group Two Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington and then Wednesday's Group One 1600m feature.

However Price ruled out Gallica going on to the VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 6.

"I reckon we've used plenty of horse to get here. I think with her bent leg I'd be asking for trouble," Price said.

"I'd like to think she'd be an AJC Oaks filly in the autumn and that would be the time to try her."

The win gave champion jockey Damien Oliver a record fourth win in the race having already won it aboard Azzurro (1992), Special Harmony (2003) and Alinghi (2004).

Oliver gave Gallica ($5 fav) a beautiful one-out and one-back trail and she went on to score by a length from Cats Whisker ($10).

Australia's best maiden Glowlamp ($16) ran her seventh placing and sixth Group placing in 11 starts in finishing a length further back third.